Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 85

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 85

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

George W. Owens, planter, was born in Russellville, Ky., on the 3d of September, 1837, to James M. and George Ann E. (Dismukes) Owens, the former a Kentuckian, born Decem- ber 25, 1812, and the latter a native of Tennessee, born in 1816, their marriage taking place in the latter state in 1836, George W. being their first child. Their union resulted in the birth of seven sons and four daughters, five of whom are still living. The parents removed from Kentucky to Tunica county, Miss., in January, 1851, where they had purchased land in 1846, consisting of two tracts of one thousand two hundred and eighty acres each, all wild land, and here they set energetically to work to clear their property and to erect good and substantial buildings thereon. Mrs. Owens died in 1872, on the plantation near Tunica, and Mr. Owens passed from life four years later, in Austin. George W. Owens was reared to a knowledge of agricultural life in this county, and since starting ont in life for himself he has shown that he possesses practical, progressive and intelligent ideas and is singularly self reli- ant and independent. He is the owner of about six hundred acres of valuable and fertile farming land, of which about one hundred acres are under cultivation, but has not followed the life of a planter since 1868, and has been a resident of Austin since 1871. He has held the office of county surveyor for the past eighteen years, was mayor of the town of Austin for four years and is one of the leading citizens of the county, for he has done much to place her among the leading counties of the state, and is most highly respected and esteemed by her citizens. The family of which he is a member were among the first settlers of this region and were well known for their liberality in aiding worthy causes and for advancing every interest tending to develop and improve the region. Mrs. Owens is a worthy and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but Mr. Owens is a Baptist. In the early part of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate service and remained true to the cause for which the South was fighting until hostilities were closed by the surrender of General Lee. He was in the battles around Vicksburg, at Iuka, Corinth, Jackson, besides various other engagements, but was never captured, and wounded only once during his entire service. He returned to Tunica county at the close of the war, and once more turned his attention to planting, but, as above stated, abandoned it in 1868 and turned his attention to diversified farming and stockraising. Mr. Owens is a finely educated gentleman, having graduated

547

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

from Bethel college, of Russellville, in Kentucky, in 1858, since which time he has kept thoroughly posted on the current topics of the day, and has taken a prominent part in the various affairs of the county. He is dignified, yet cordial in his manners, is of fair complex- ion, and his eyes are a bright blue.

CHAPTER XVI.

SKETCHES OF INDIVIDUAL LIFE, P.

HE following is a brief sketch of the life of the Hon. J. R. Pace, of Conehatta, Miss., one of Newton county's most enterprising citizens. He was born in Copiah county, Miss., January 2, 1832. His parents removed to Yazoo county in 1833, and in 1835 to Newton county, where he grew to manhood. He is the eldest of a family of twelve children, and was educated in the common schools. When it came time to select an occupation whereby he might gain an honorable livelihood he chose that of agriculture. In 1852 he was married to Miss M. J. Mathews, a daughter of William Mathews, and born in Perry county, Miss., in 1830. This union has been blessed by the birth of ten children, only six of whom are still living: Julia A., wife of James Anderson, Jr .; Matilda J. (deceased); Martha S., wife of R. A. Hattaway; T. B. (living), James N. (deceased), A. J. (living), Sarah E. (deceased); Mary C., wife of H. C. Bufkin, G. W. (living), and Hattie E. (deceased). Mr. Pace responded to the call for men to go to the defense of the country, and enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Mississippi as a private under Captain McElroy, company D. He participated in the battles of Corinth, Port Hudson, and was wounded at Atlanta, Ga., on August 10, 1864; he was confined in the hospital for some time, and when he was able to go about again he returned to his home, and resumed the more peaceful occupation of farming. The people of Newton county have testified to the confidence which they have in Mr. Pace by retaining him as a member of the board of supervisors for twelve years. He was further honored by being elected to the state legislature in the fall of 1887, and served in this capacity until 1890. He has also filled the office of county school commissioner of Newton county. He belongs to the Masonic order, and is also a member of the Farmers' Grange. In the autumn of 1886 he embarked in the mercantile trade at Conehatta, and does a business of $8,000 a year in con- nection with his farming. He has one thousand acres of land, two hundred of which he has reduced to a high state of cultivation. The family are members of the Baptist church, and are zealous workers in the cause which they have espoused.

R. B. Pace, one of the most extensive and prosperous farmers of Conehatta, Newton county, Miss., is a native of this county, born in 1839. His father, T. J. Pace, was born in the state of Alabama in 1810, and the mother, Jerusha Ann Tuchtone Pace, was a native of Copiah county, Miss., born in 1811. There were twelve children in the family, of whom R. B. is the fifth. The parents were married in 1833 in Copiah county, and the father engaged

548

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

in farming, in which he continued until his death. He passed out of this life in October, 1864. He and his wife were useful members of the Baptist church, and all religious and educational enterprises found ready sympathy and support in them. R. B. Pace began life upon his own responsibility in 1862. In that same year he abandoned his private interests and went into the service of his country. He enlisted in the Thirteenth Mississippi regiment as a private under Captain Carleton, and saw one year of active duty. He participated in the battle of Ball's Bluff, and in June, 1863, he was honorably discharged at Richmond, Va. He then returned to his home and resumed his agricultural pursuits. He was married Sep- tember 30, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth Horalson, daughter of William and Carmelia Horalson, who was born in Georgia in 1843. To them were born eleven children, ten of whom are liv- ing: Edith F., wife of M. M. McCuden; Exah V., wife of R. A. Sprened; Phebe E., wife of J. L. Frazier; Onia L., wife of O. A. Eddy; Lawrence J., Laura J., William J., Bruce M., Orent B., and Kirthla M. Mr. Pace engaged in the mercantile trade, and in 1876, 1877 and 1878 he handled $20,000 worth of goods annually. He then moved the store to his planta- tion, about four miles northwest of town, but soon after returned to the old stand. This was in 1884, and he continued there seven years. On account of a failure of his health he aban- doned merchandising and retired to his farm in April, 1891. He owns about four thousand acres of land and has five hundred under cultivation; it is one of the best improved farms in the community. Mr. Pace's family are members of the Baptist church, in which society their zeal finds ready expression.

H. G. Paden, M. D., was born in Fayette county, Tenn., August 25, 1844, the youngest in a family of five children belonging to Alexander and Sarah (McCauley) Paden. The father was a native of Greenville district and the mother of Chester district, S. C. They grew up, were married in the Palmetto state and removed thence to Tennessee, where Mr. Paden bought land in Fayette county and settled there, engaging in planting. After four years' residence there he removed to Tishomingo county and located at old Castle Garden, now known as Burnt Mills, where he built a grist and sawmill, which he ran in connection with his planting enterprise. He was one of the earliest and in many respects one of the most influential citizens of the county. He did not aspire to any official position in the manage- ment of its concerns, but was content to be known as an honorable man of affairs, a kind and benevolent neighbor and a high-minded, Christian gentleman. Before the war he had accumu- lated considerable property in the way of land and slaves. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, and died in this county, Mr. Paden in 1870 in the sixty-fifth year of his age, while Mrs. Paden passed away in 1873. Only four of the family are now living. These are: William D., who lives in Cameron, Tex .; David R., Mary J., wife of John H. Aughey, living in the Indian territory, and the subject of this sketch. The latter began life for himself and for his country at the early age of sixteen years, enlisting in 1862 in a company of the Thirty-second Mississippi infantry, under the command of Col. M. P. Lowrey, which was included in the department of the army of the Tennessee. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary ridge, Lookout mountain, Kenesaw mountain, Atlanta, Franklin, Bentonville and numerous engagements of minor importance. At the battle of Franklin, Tenn., every member of his company was killed except two, and he was one of the two survivors, the other being a man named Dean. Although he was in some of the most hotly contested battles of the war, he was never wounded nor taken pris- oner. At the end of the struggle he was paroled after the surrender, the company being disbanded at Greensboro, N. C. Returning to Tishomingo county, he engaged in farm- ing and took up the study of medicine in the office of Dr. John Gordon at Rienzi, Miss,, in

519

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

the year 1868, with whom he remained for four years, meanwhile in the winter of 1869-70 taking a course of lectures at Louisville Medical college, Louisville, Ky. In 1872 he located on the old homestead at Burnt Mills, where he has since been engaged very successfully in the practice of his profession, carrying on planting in connection therewith. He is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land, fifty acres of which are in a good state of cultiva- tion, and are as productive as any in this part of the state. The Doctor was married in 1873 to Eusebia Thompson, a daughter of John Thompson and Eusebia (Hodges) Thompson. Her father was a native of Alabama and her mother of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Paden have had four children to consecrate their union-three sons and one daughter: Ward, Sallie, Charles and John. The eldest is attending the Iuka Normal institute. The Paden family are exten- sively known throughout this part of the state, having been first among the pioneers and always among the leading citizens of Tishomingo county. The Doctor has a lucrative prac- tice, the reputation of being a physician of skill and learning, and is regarded as an honora- ble practitioner, second to none in this part of the state. Although his interest in the public welfare is deep and abiding, he has never consented to accept any official position nor any of the numerous offices thrust npon him. His contributions to religious and educational as well as to charitable and beneficial interests generally have been frequent and generous. He and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their home is ever open with the true Southern hospitality.

G. R. Page, planter, Clarksdale, Miss., was originally from Mississippi, his birth occur- ring in Tallahatchie county in 1854, and was the youngest of seven children born to George H. and Rebecca (Crawley) Page, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina. The father came to Mississippi when a young man, settled and married in Talla- hatchie county, and followed the occupation of a planter. He came to Coahoma county in 1854, and his death occurred there four years later. He was a prominent citizen of the county, and was a descendant of an old and honored Virginia family. The mother died in 1874. They had two sons in the Confederate army: Robert (killed at Atlanta in 1864), and James (who died at Camp Douglas prison, Illinois, in April, 1865); two daughters died in infancy; Thomas W. (died in this county in 1882) and Albert B. (died the same year in Los Angeles, Cal., whither he had gone for his health). G. R. Page received a thorough educa- tion in the University of Mississippi, graduated in the class of 1878, and then practiced law at Friar's Point until 1882. After the death of his brother he moved to the homestead plan- tation, adjoining Clarksdale, consisting of six hundred acres, with five hundred acres nnder cultivation, and there he has since remained. He is thoroughgoing and progressive in his ideas, and has his land well improved and equipped. Politically he is a worker for the demo- cratic party. In 1884 he was elected secretary of the board of levee commissioners for the Yazoo (Miss.) delta, with W. L. Hemingway as treasurer. In 1889 the offices of treasurer and secretary were combined, and Mr. Page was elected to fill both offices. He is treasurer of the Yazoo Delta Investment company, and is a director in the same. He is also a director and stockholder of the Clarksdale Brick and Manufacturing company, and has been identified with and a promoter of all enterprises of a public nature. He is tall, has dark hair and eyes, and is a shrewd, careful business man. Aside from his planting interest he is the owner of a number of lots in Clarksdale. March 12, 1891, Mr. Page was married to Miss Annie L. Murphy, a daughter of the late C. M. Murphy, of Durant, Miss., and they now reside at their beautiful home, Myrtle Hall, just outside the city limits of Clarksdale.

L. Page, planter, is a Mississippian by birth, born October 13, 1851, the youngest of thirteen children born to Maj. Warren A. and Mrs. (Reed) Page, the former of whom was

550

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1808, and in his early manhood came to Mississippi, settling in De Soto county in 1851. After remaining there five years he moved to Calhoun county and there followed the occupation of planting until his death in 1870. His wife was also a native of Tennessee and came of a family of planters. L. Page received his initiatory train- ing in the common schools; after which he entered Leddin's Commercial school of Memphis, Tenn., from which he graduated in 1874. After leaving school he went to northern Missis- sippi, where he spent six years, at the end of which time he went to Texas, remaining in the Lone Star state two years. He next spent some time in Concordia parish, La., and during the six years that he remained in that state he was engaged in planting. The six subsequent years were spent in Mississippi, near Natchez, but in 1887 he left that place and came to Warren county, and in partnership with Mr. Pipes, of Natchez, he purchased the Ursena plantation, in Davis' bend. This plantation contains about two thousand acres, nine hundred of which are under cultivation, and is especially well adapted to the raising of stock, being well watered, etc. This entire tract was at one time heavily covered with timber, but a con- siderable portion of it has been cleared and other parts of it have gone back to Bermuda grass, which is very nutritious and affords the best of pasture. The old bed of the river is gradually filling up and adding to his acreage, and this too is growing up in grass. He is already raising an excellent grade of beef cattle and is expecting to engage in this enterprise very extensively in the near future. He has taken no interest in politics, being content to devote his time to his planting interests, at which he is making money. He is unmarried.

Junius G. Parham, the owner and proprietor of Parham hotel at Rolling Fork, also a planter of Sharkey county, Miss., was born in New Orleans in 1833 to Dr. John G. and Eliza (Moss) Parham, the former of whom was born at Hickford, Greene county, Va., in 1800. He was reared to a knowledge of farm life, and after obtaining a common-school education he began the study of medicine, graduating from a medical institution of Phila- delphia, Penn. When in his early manhood he came to Vicksburg, Miss., where he was first married to a Miss Merritt, by whom he became the father of several children, among whom were: Prof. John, who was the superintendent of public instruction at New Orleans prior to the war, and died at Bessemer, Ala., a few years ago; Engene, who is now at New Orleans, and Victoria, wife of a Mr. De Mallory, a prominent attorney of Hickford, Va. Mr. Parham's second marriage was to Miss Moss, by whom he became the father of the following. children: James, who died when young; Henry; Rosy, wife of Solomon Frank, of Erath county, Tex .; Junius G .; Edinas P. (deceased), and Lucinda, wife of Willard Chamberlain, of Erath county, Tex. Dr. Parham was a leading medical practitioner of Vicksburg for many years, and in that city he was also an extensive dealer in real estate. His residence was at Parham hill, two miles east of Vicksburg, until 1849, when he removed to New Orleans, where he hired out his negroes for levee work. In 1860 he removed to Amite City, near which place he died on the 25th of July, 1862, after a long and well- spent life. Although he received but little schooling in his youth, he was ambitious and persevering, and throughout his life was a hard student, applying himself to his studies to such purpose that he became a man of profound learning, a highly successful physician and a leading politician. He was at one time the choice of the whig party as a candidate for congress, this being while he was a resident of Vicksburg, but he was defeated. He was afterward offered a nomination for the position of mayor of New Orleans, but declined. He was a prominent Mason, and was also a leading member of the Felicita Road Methodist church at New Orleans. His father was James Parham. Mrs. Parham, the mother of Junius G. Parham, was born in Vicksburg in 1827, and died in Amite City in April, 1889, having been the

551

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

wife of Hon. Martin Haney, a member of the lower house of the Louisiana legislature. She was the daughter of Col. H. A. Moss, a native of Vermont, who left home at the age of thirteen years and came to Vicksburg, Miss., where he grew to manhood and was married to Miss Eliza Vick, a daughter of Gen. William Vick, a brother of the founder of Vicksburg (see sketch of N. J. Vick). Colonel Moss was a merchant and planter, and very well to do. He spent some years in Tennessee and Texas, and was a colonel in the Mexican war, his death occurring iu New Orleans in 1859. Junius Parham was educated in Amite City, La., and at the age of sixteen years began for himself as a planter near Amite City, but in 1875 came to Anguilla, Miss., and took charge of Colonel Vick's Anguilla plantation. In 1877 he was married to Alice, daughter of Eli Stevens, who was a planter of Warren county, where he passed from life, having previously been a planter of Claiborne county. His wife died when their daughter, Mrs. Parham, was two years old. The latter has borne her hus- band one son and three daughters; the former, a bright little boy, was drowned in Hun- tonia landing, Sunflower river, near their home, in the high water of 1882. In 1883 Mr. Parham purchased a fine plantation of five hundred and eighty-six acres near Anguilla, about three hundred acres of which are under cultivation, producing from one hundred and ten to two hundred bales of cotton per year. He also owns a residence and four lots in Anguilla, and a hotel and store building in Rolling Fork, which he has the satisfaction of knowing has been acquired by his own efforts. From 1885 until 1889 he was a mer- chant of Anguilla, but since October, 1890, he has resided in Rolling Fork, where he is the proprietor of Parham hotel, which is an admirably kept hostelry, and commands a paying patronage. Mr. Parham has always been active in public affairs, and no effort has been spared on his part for the general advancement of the community. In 1879 he was the candidate of the fusionists for sheriff of Sharkey county, but was defeated by a small majority. In 1887 he was the choice of the democratic party for county treasurer, but was opposed by an independent candidate who obtained the support of the republicans and defeated Mr. Parham by thirty-five votes. In 1890 he was census enumerator for dis- tricts one and two in Sharkey county, and was at one time the democratic congressional committeeman for Sharkey county. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Honor of Rolling Fork, and he and his wife are consistent workers in and active members of the Methodist church.

Dr. John T. Parker is an active medical practitioner of Chickasaw county, Miss., located at Buena Vista. He is a son of Eleazer and Mary Parker, of South Carolina, and grandson of Isaac and Susan (Gibson) Parker, Isaac being a native of Virginia and a planter by occu- pation. His father was born in Wales, and in the sixteenth century came to America and located in Virginia, where he became an extensive stockdealer and very wealthy. Eleazer and Mary Parker became the parents of the following children: John T., Mary H. (Surrat), Naomi J. (Davis), Isaac L. (deceased), Meek C., Emeline (McLuncy), Joseph E. (deceased), and Elizabeth (Surrat), deceased. Dr. John T. Parker was educated in the South Carolina Military academy, and afterward fitted himself for his profession in the Jefferson Medical college, of Philadelphia, Penn., and the South Carolina Medical college, graduating from the last named institution in 1861. He first located at Fort Mill, S. C., but became a resi- dent of Chickasaw county, Miss., in 1871, locating at Buena Vista, becoming a member of the Buena Vista and Houston Medical association, and its first president. He became secre- tary of the same in 1875, and the following year its vice president. He was also a member of the Mississippi State Medical association, and during the year of 1878 was its vice presi- dent. He entered the Confederate army as first lieutenant and was promoted to the captaincy

552

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

of his company, in which capacity he served until the war closed. He was in all the skir- mishing and fights on the coast of South Carolina; the engagements around Richmond, Petersburg; was under Stonewall Jackson in Maryland, and was at Appomattox Courthouse at the time of Lee's surrender. In December, 1866, he was married to Miss Louisa, a daughter of Minor Sadler, Esq., of York, S. C., but in 1876 he was called upon to mourn her death, she leaving him with three children: Pearl, Victor S. and Louis S. His second marriage, in 1881, was to Mrs. Annetta Conner Hill, who died in 1883, leaving him with one child to care for, John William. Dr. Parker is a member of the Masonic order at Buena Vista. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in 1886-7 was county superintend- ent of public schools of Chickasaw county. He has been one of the trustees and directors of Buena Vista college ever since that institution was established, and has otherwise interested himself in the public affairs of this section, being the present mayor of the town. As a physician he is well known, for he is skilled and experienced, and his patronage is large and lucrative.

John T. Parker, merchant, Graysport, Miss., a member of the well-known mercantile firm of Parker Bros., is a general trader, and in connection is actively engaged in plant- ing. His father, William Parker, was a native of Anson county, N. C., where he was married in 1839 to Miss Isabella F. Harris, also a native of that county. After marriage the parents came to Lowndes county, Miss., remained there for three years and then removed to Carroll county, where they continued to reside until 1857. Mr. Parker was a very successful planter and a man of excellent business ability, although he had but a limited education. He accumulated a large fortune by his industry and economy. He died in 1875, and his wife in 1884. He was a member of the Baptist and she a member of the Methodist church. The paternal grand- father, James Parker, was a native of America, but of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a planter and died in North Carolina. Daniel Harris, the maternal grandfather, was a native of America and followed the occupation of a planter and miller. He was very wealthy, owning a distillery and gold mine, and passed his last days in the Old North state. John T. Parker is the eldest of the following children, born to the above mentioned union: Young A. was a merchant in Yalobusha county, was educated in Mississippi and died in 1867 (he was in company D, Forty-eighth Mississippi infantry and served with the Virginia army in a brave and faithful manner. He was severely wounded near Petersburg); William J. is in business in Graysport with John T. (he was married to Miss Lula F., daughter of Dr. L. M. Mays, who has been a prominent physician of Graysport since 1870); Henry W., and Ada (wife of L. F. Provine, who is a merchant of Coffeeville). John T. Parker was born in Tishomingo county in 1839, educated principally in Carroll county, and at the age of eighteen years he began as clerk at Graysport for B. F. Johnson and has resided here ever since, except during the war. In 1861 he joined company E, Fifteenth Mississippi infantry, and the first battle in which he participated was Fishing creek, Ky. On January 19, 1862, he was captured and imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained until the 26th of April, when he was taken to Johnson island. He remained there until May and was then returned to Camp Chase, where he continued until September, 1862, when he was exchanged at Vicksburg. After this, on account of ill health, he went home and there remained until after the fall of Vicksburg, when he joined the Forty-eighth Mississippi, company E, and operated in the Vir- ginia army until the close of the war, or just before, when he returned home on account of an old wound. In February, 1866, he engaged in merchandising at Graysport, the firm being Badeheimer & Parker; continued until 1876, and from that time until 1880 Mr. Parker was not in business. At the last mentioned date he engaged in business alone, and

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 85

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314